Seed coating compositions including ethylene copolymer and lubricant

Abstract

Coated seeds and methods for reducing seed dust and increasing seed flowability are disclosed. The coated seeds include a seed and a coating composition. The coating composition includes a binder comprising an ethylene copolymer and a lubricant comprising a wax composition. In some embodiments, the ethylene copolymer includes an ethylene monomer and at least one comonomer. The comonomer is selected from acrylic acid, acetic acid, derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the wax comprises a Fischer-Tropsch wax, a carnauba wax, a polyethylene wax, a soy wax, a paraffin wax, a scale wax, a slack wax, or a mixture thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coated seed comprising a seed and a coating, wherein the coating comprises:
 a binder comprising an ethylene copolymer, wherein the ethylene copolymer comprises an ethylene monomer in an amount of from about 70% to about 90% by weight based on the weight of the ethylene copolymer, and from about 10% to about 30% by weight of at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; and 
 a lubricant. 
 
     
     
       2. The coated seed according  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant comprises a wax. 
     
     
       3. The coated seed according to  claim 2 , wherein the wax comprises a Fischer-Tropsch wax, a carnauba wax, a polyethylene wax, a soy wax, a paraffin wax, a scale wax, a slack wax, a micronized wax, another vegetable wax, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       4. The coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the seed is selected from soybean, corn, cotton, rice, oat, rye, barley, wheat, sunflower, lettuce, spinach, and vegetable. 
     
     
       5. The coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises at least one pesticide. 
     
     
       6. The coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises a colorant. 
     
     
       7. The coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a ratio by weight of binder to lubricant of about 1:10 to about 10:1. 
     
     
       8. The coated seed according to  claim 7 , wherein the ratio by weight of binder to lubricant of about 1:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
       9. The coated seed according to  claim 1 , wherein the ethylene copolymer is an ionomer. 
     
     
       10. A method of reducing seed dust and increasing seed flowability comprising:
 treating a seed with a coating composition, wherein the coating composition comprises a lubricant and a binder comprising:
 ethylene copolymer, wherein the ethylene copolymer comprises an ethylene monomer in an amount of from about 70% to about 90% by weight based on the weight of the ethylene copolymer, and from about 10% to about 30% by weight of at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the coating comprises a ratio by weight of binder to lubricant of about 1:10 to about 10:1. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the coating composition further comprises at least one pesticide. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the ethylene copolymer is formed by high pressure polymerization at pressures of about 2,500 to about 50,000 psi. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein treating the seed with the coating composition comprises spraying the seed with the coating composition. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , the method further comprising agitating the seed following spraying, the agitating being effective to coat the seed with the coating composition. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein treating the seed with the coating composition comprises tumbling the seed with the coating composition.